Book Industry Event Aims to Raise Funds for Obama

These are uncertain economic times for book publishers and authors alike, but it looks like some in the publishing community are still backing President Obama. A June 18th fundraiser, with regular tickets starting at $250, is expected to raise $125,000 to $150,000 for the president’s re-election campaign, according to one of the event’s organizers.

“We’ve got 87 people who have pledged $1,000, and it’s all personal donations, not corporate,” says Barbara Lowenstein, a literary agent and one of four co-chairs. “Very few people have said no.” She added that 215 people are committed to coming, but that she expects the New York event will attract about 300.

Bob Miller, group publisher at Workman Publishing Inc., and one of the fundraiser’s organizers, said the group has used its own personal e-mail contacts and a Facebook posting. Asked whether he was worried about offending Republication writers, agents or editors, he said, “This is something we’re doing personally. They’re free to do fundraisers of their own.”

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